diff --git a/pvDataApp/factory/Convert.cpp b/pvDataApp/factory/Convert.cpp
index 420bd48..16f8828 100644
--- a/pvDataApp/factory/Convert.cpp
+++ b/pvDataApp/factory/Convert.cpp
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 #include <pv/pvIntrospect.h>
 #include <pv/pvData.h>
 #include <pv/convert.h>
+#include <pv/printer.h>
 
 using std::tr1::static_pointer_cast;
 using std::size_t;
@@ -375,14 +376,6 @@ static size_t convertFromStringArray(PVScalarArray *pv, size_t offset,
 static size_t convertToStringArray(PVScalarArray *pv, size_t offset,
     size_t len,StringArray & to, size_t toOffset);
 
-static void convertToString(StringBuilder buffer,
-    PVField const  *pv,int indentLevel);
-static void convertStructure(StringBuilder buffer,
-    PVStructure const *data,int indentLevel);
-static void convertArray(StringBuilder buffer,
-    PVScalarArray  const* pv,int indentLevel);
-static void convertStructureArray(StringBuilder buffer,
-    PVStructureArray const * pvdata,int indentLevel);
 static size_t copyArrayDataReference(PVScalarArray *from,PVArray *to);
 static size_t copyNumericArray(PVScalarArray *from,
     size_t offset, PVScalarArray *to, size_t toOffset, size_t len);
@@ -420,25 +413,16 @@ Convert::Convert()
 
 Convert::~Convert(){}
 
-void Convert::getString(StringBuilder buf,PVFieldPtr const & pvField,int indentLevel)
-{
-    convertToString(buf,pvField.get(),indentLevel);
-}
-
-void Convert::getString(StringBuilder buf,PVFieldPtr const & pvField)
-{
-    convertToString(buf,pvField.get(),0);
-}
-
 void Convert::getString(StringBuilder buf,PVField const *pvField,int indentLevel)
 {
-    convertToString(buf,pvField,indentLevel);
+    // TODO indextLevel ignored
+    std::ostringstream strm;
+    PrinterPlain p;
+    p.setStream(strm);
+    p.print(*pvField);
+    strm.str().swap(*buf);
 }
 
-void Convert::getString(StringBuilder buf,PVField const *pvField)
-{
-    convertToString(buf,pvField,0);
-}
 
 size_t Convert::fromString(PVStructurePtr const &pvStructure, StringArray const & from, size_t fromStartIndex)
 {
@@ -2227,408 +2211,6 @@ size_t convertToStringArray(PVScalarArray *pv,
     return ncopy;
 }
 
-
-void convertToString(StringBuilder buffer,PVField const * pv,int indentLevel)
-{
-    Type type = pv->getField()->getType();
-    if(type==scalarArray) {
-        convertArray(buffer,static_cast<PVScalarArray const *>(pv),indentLevel);
-        return;
-    }
-    if(type==structure) {
-        convertStructure(buffer,static_cast<PVStructure const *>(pv),indentLevel);
-        return;
-    }
-    if(type==structureArray) {
-    	convertStructureArray(
-            buffer,static_cast<PVStructureArray const *>(pv),indentLevel);
-        return;
-    }
-    PVScalar const *pvScalar = static_cast<PVScalar const *>(pv);
-    const ScalarConstPtr & pscalar = pvScalar->getScalar();
-    ScalarType scalarType = pscalar->getScalarType();
-    *buffer += pscalar->getID();
-    *buffer += " ";
-    *buffer += pv->getFieldName();
-    *buffer += " ";
-    switch(scalarType) {
-    case pvBoolean: {
-            PVBoolean const *data = static_cast<PVBoolean const *>(pv);
-            bool value = data->get();
-            if(value) {
-                *buffer += "true";
-            } else {
-                *buffer += "false";
-            }
-        }
-        return;
-    case pvByte: {
-            PVByte const *data = static_cast<PVByte const *>(pv);
-            char xxx[30];
-            sprintf(xxx,"%d",(int)data->get());
-            *buffer += xxx;
-        }
-        return;
-    case pvShort: {
-            PVShort const  *data = static_cast<PVShort const *>(pv);
-            char xxx[30];
-            sprintf(xxx,"%d",(int)data->get());
-            *buffer += xxx;
-        }
-        return;
-    case pvInt: {
-            PVInt const  *data = static_cast<PVInt const *>(pv);
-            char xxx[30];
-            sprintf(xxx,"%d",(int)data->get());
-            *buffer += xxx;
-        }
-        return;
-    case pvLong: {
-            PVLong const  *data = static_cast<PVLong const *>(pv);
-            char xxx[30];
-            sprintf(xxx,"%lld",(long long)data->get());
-            *buffer += xxx;
-        }
-        return;
-    case pvUByte: {
-            PVUByte const  *data = static_cast<PVUByte const *>(pv);
-            char xxx[30];
-            sprintf(xxx,"%u",(unsigned int)data->get());
-            *buffer += xxx;
-        }
-        return;
-    case pvUShort: {
-            PVUShort const  *data = static_cast<PVUShort const *>(pv);
-            char xxx[30];
-            sprintf(xxx,"%u",(unsigned int)data->get());
-            *buffer += xxx;
-        }
-        return;
-    case pvUInt: {
-            PVUInt const  *data = static_cast<PVUInt const *>(pv);
-            char xxx[30];
-            sprintf(xxx,"%u",(unsigned int)data->get());
-            *buffer += xxx;
-        }
-        return;
-    case pvULong: {
-            PVULong const  *data = static_cast<PVULong const *>(pv);
-            char xxx[30];
-            sprintf(xxx,"%llu",(unsigned long long)data->get());
-            *buffer += xxx;
-        }
-        return;
-    case pvFloat: {
-            PVFloat const  *data = static_cast<PVFloat const *>(pv);
-            char xxx[30];
-            sprintf(xxx,"%g",data->get());
-            *buffer += xxx;
-        }
-        return;
-    case pvDouble: {
-            PVDouble const  *data = static_cast<PVDouble const *>(pv);
-            char xxx[30];
-            sprintf(xxx,"%g",data->get());
-            *buffer += xxx;
-        }
-        return;
-    case pvString: {
-            PVString const  *data = static_cast<PVString const *>(pv);
-            *buffer += data->get();
-        }
-        return;
-    default:
-        *buffer += "unknown ScalarType";
-    }
-}
-
-void convertStructure(StringBuilder buffer,PVStructure const *data,int indentLevel)
-{
-    *buffer += data->getStructure()->getID() + " " + data->getFieldName();
-    String extendsName = data->getExtendsStructureName();
-    if(extendsName.length()>0) {
-        *buffer += " extends " + extendsName;
-    }
-    PVFieldPtrArray const & fieldsData = data->getPVFields();
-    if (fieldsData.size() != 0) {
-        int length = data->getStructure()->getNumberFields();
-        for(int i=0; i<length; i++) {
-            newLineImpl(buffer, indentLevel+1);
-            PVFieldPtr fieldField = fieldsData[i];
-            fieldField->toString(buffer,indentLevel + 1);
-        }
-    }
-}
-
-void convertArray(StringBuilder buffer,PVScalarArray const * xxx,int /*indentLevel*/)
-{
-    PVScalarArray *pv = const_cast<PVScalarArray *>(xxx);
-    ScalarArrayConstPtr array = pv->getScalarArray();
-    ScalarType type = array->getElementType();
-    *buffer += array->getID() + " " + pv->getFieldName() + " ";
-    switch(type) {
-    case pvBoolean: {
-            PVBooleanArray *pvdata = static_cast<PVBooleanArray *>(pv);
-            BooleanArrayData data;
-            *buffer += "[";
-            for(size_t i=0; i < pvdata->getLength(); i++) {
-                if(i!=0) *buffer += ",";
-                size_t num = pvdata->get(i,1,data);
-                if(num==1) {
-                     BooleanArray  & value = data.data;
-                     if(value[data.offset]) {
-                         *buffer += "true";
-                     } else {
-                         *buffer += "false";
-                     }
-                } else {
-                     *buffer += "???? ";
-                }
-            }
-            *buffer += "]";
-            break;
-        }
-    case pvByte: {
-            PVByteArray *pvdata = static_cast<PVByteArray*>(pv);
-            ByteArrayData data;
-            *buffer += "[";
-            for(size_t i=0; i < pvdata->getLength(); i++) {
-                if(i!=0) *buffer += ",";
-                size_t num = pvdata->get(i,1,data);
-                if(num==1) {
-                     int val = data.data[data.offset];
-                     char buf[16];
-                     sprintf(buf,"%d",val);
-                     *buffer += buf;
-                } else {
-                     *buffer += "???? ";
-                }
-            }
-            *buffer += "]";
-            break;
-        }
-    case pvShort: {
-            PVShortArray *pvdata = static_cast<PVShortArray*>(pv);
-            ShortArrayData data;
-            *buffer += "[";
-            for(size_t i=0; i < pvdata->getLength(); i++) {
-                if(i!=0) *buffer += ',';
-                size_t num = pvdata->get(i,1,data);
-                if(num==1) {
-                     int val = data.data[data.offset];
-                     char buf[16];
-                     sprintf(buf,"%d",val);
-                     *buffer += buf;
-                } else {
-                     *buffer += "???? ";
-                }
-            }
-            *buffer += "]";
-            break;
-        }
-    case pvInt: {
-            PVIntArray *pvdata = static_cast<PVIntArray*>(pv);
-            IntArrayData data;
-            *buffer += "[";
-            for(size_t i=0; i < pvdata->getLength(); i++) {
-                if(i!=0) *buffer += ',';
-                size_t num = pvdata->get(i,1,data);
-                if(num==1) {
-                     int val = data.data[data.offset];
-                     char buf[16];
-                     sprintf(buf,"%d",val);
-                     *buffer += buf;
-                } else {
-                     *buffer += "???? ";
-                }
-            }
-            *buffer += "]";
-            break;
-        }
-    case pvLong: {
-            PVLongArray *pvdata = static_cast<PVLongArray*>(pv);
-            LongArrayData data;
-            *buffer += "[";
-            for(size_t i=0; i < pvdata->getLength(); i++) {
-                if(i!=0) *buffer += ',';
-                size_t num = pvdata->get(i,1,data);
-                if(num==1) {
-                     int64 val = data.data[data.offset];
-                     char buf[32];
-                     sprintf(buf,"%lld",(long long)val);
-                     *buffer += buf;
-                } else {
-                     *buffer += "???? ";
-                }
-            }
-            *buffer += "]";
-            break;
-        }
-    case pvUByte: {
-            PVUByteArray *pvdata = static_cast<PVUByteArray*>(pv);
-            UByteArrayData data;
-            *buffer += "[";
-            for(size_t i=0; i < pvdata->getLength(); i++) {
-                if(i!=0) *buffer += ",";
-                size_t num = pvdata->get(i,1,data);
-                if(num==1) {
-                      unsigned int val = data.data[data.offset];
-                     char buf[16];
-                     sprintf(buf,"%u",val);
-                     *buffer += buf;
-                } else {
-                     *buffer += "???? ";
-                }
-            }
-            *buffer += "]";
-            break;
-        }
-    case pvUShort: {
-            PVUShortArray *pvdata = static_cast<PVUShortArray*>(pv);
-            UShortArrayData data;
-            *buffer += "[";
-            for(size_t i=0; i < pvdata->getLength(); i++) {
-                if(i!=0) *buffer += ',';
-                size_t num = pvdata->get(i,1,data);
-                if(num==1) {
-                    unsigned  int val = data.data[data.offset];
-                     char buf[16];
-                     sprintf(buf,"%u",val);
-                     *buffer += buf;
-                } else {
-                     *buffer += "???? ";
-                }
-            }
-            *buffer += "]";
-            break;
-        }
-    case pvUInt: {
-            PVUIntArray *pvdata = static_cast<PVUIntArray*>(pv);
-            UIntArrayData data;
-            *buffer += "[";
-            for(size_t i=0; i < pvdata->getLength(); i++) {
-                if(i!=0) *buffer += ',';
-                size_t num = pvdata->get(i,1,data);
-                if(num==1) {
-                     unsigned int val = data.data[data.offset];
-                     char buf[16];
-                     sprintf(buf,"%u",val);
-                     *buffer += buf;
-                } else {
-                     *buffer += "???? ";
-                }
-            }
-            *buffer += "]";
-            break;
-        }
-    case pvULong: {
-            PVULongArray *pvdata = static_cast<PVULongArray*>(pv);
-            ULongArrayData data;
-            *buffer += "[";
-            for(size_t i=0; i < pvdata->getLength(); i++) {
-                if(i!=0) *buffer += ',';
-                size_t num = pvdata->get(i,1,data);
-                if(num==1) {
-                     uint64 val = data.data[data.offset];
-                     char buf[32];
-                     sprintf(buf,"%llu",(unsigned long long)val);
-                     *buffer += buf;
-                } else {
-                     *buffer += "???? ";
-                }
-            }
-            *buffer += "]";
-            break;
-        }
-    case pvFloat: {
-            PVFloatArray *pvdata = static_cast<PVFloatArray*>(pv);
-            FloatArrayData data;
-            *buffer += "[";
-            for(size_t i=0; i < pvdata->getLength(); i++) {
-                if(i!=0) *buffer += ',';
-                size_t num = pvdata->get(i,1,data);
-                if(num==1) {
-                     float val = data.data[data.offset];
-                     char buf[16];
-                     sprintf(buf,"%g",val);
-                     *buffer += buf;
-                } else {
-                     *buffer += "???? ";
-                }
-            }
-            *buffer += "]";
-            break;
-        }
-    case pvDouble: {
-            PVDoubleArray *pvdata = static_cast<PVDoubleArray*>(pv);
-            DoubleArrayData data;
-            *buffer += "[";
-            for(size_t i=0; i < pvdata->getLength(); i++) {
-                if(i!=0) *buffer += ',';
-                size_t num = pvdata->get(i,1,data);
-                if(num==1) {
-                     double val = data.data[data.offset];
-                     char buf[16];
-                     sprintf(buf,"%g",val);
-                     *buffer += buf;
-                } else {
-                     *buffer += "???? ";
-                }
-            }
-            *buffer += ("]");
-            break;
-        }
-    case pvString: {
-    	PVStringArray *pvdata = static_cast<PVStringArray*>(pv);
-    	StringArrayData data;
-    	*buffer += "[";
-    	for(size_t i=0; i < pvdata->getLength(); i++) {
-    		if(i!=0) *buffer += ",";
-    		size_t num = pvdata->get(i,1,data);
-    		StringArray & value = data.data;
-                if(num==1) {
-                    if(value[data.offset].length()>0) {
-                         *buffer += value[data.offset].c_str();
-                    } else {
-                         *buffer += "null";
-                    }
-    		} else {
-    			*buffer += "null";
-    		}
-    	}
-    	*buffer += "]";
-    	break;
-    }
-    default:
-        *buffer += " array element is unknown ScalarType";
-    }
-    if(pv->isImmutable()) {
-        *buffer += " immutable ";
-    }
-}
-
-void convertStructureArray(StringBuilder buffer,
-    PVStructureArray const * xxx,int indentLevel)
-{
-    PVStructureArray *pvdata = const_cast<PVStructureArray *>(xxx);
-    *buffer += pvdata->getStructureArray()->getID() + " " + pvdata->getFieldName() + " ";
-    size_t length = pvdata->getLength();
-    if(length<=0) {
-        return;
-    }
-    StructureArrayData data = StructureArrayData();
-    pvdata->get(0, length, data);
-    for (size_t i = 0; i < length; i++) {
-        newLineImpl(buffer, indentLevel + 1);
-        PVStructurePtr & pvStructure = data.data[i];
-        if (pvStructure.get() == 0) {
-            *buffer += "null";
-        } else {
-            pvStructure->toString(buffer,indentLevel+1);
-        }
-    }
-}
-
 size_t copyArrayDataReference(PVScalarArray *from,PVArray *to)
 {
     ScalarType scalarType = from->getScalarArray()->getElementType();
diff --git a/pvDataApp/pv/convert.h b/pvDataApp/pv/convert.h
index 3df3325..b66c073 100644
--- a/pvDataApp/pv/convert.h
+++ b/pvDataApp/pv/convert.h
@@ -113,14 +113,16 @@ public:
      * If a PVField is a structure or array be prepared for a very long string.
      * @param indentLevel indentation level
      */
-    void getString(StringBuilder buf,PVFieldPtr const & pvField,int indentLevel);
+    void getString(StringBuilder buf,PVFieldPtr const & pvField,int indentLevel)
+    {getString(buf, pvField.get(), indentLevel);}
     /**
      * Convert a PVField to a string.
      * param buf buffer for the result
      * @param pv The PVField to convert to a string.
      * If the PVField is a structure or array be prepared for a very long string.
      */
-    void getString(StringBuilder buf,PVFieldPtr const & pvField);
+    inline void getString(StringBuilder buf,PVFieldPtr const & pvField)
+    {getString(buf, pvField.get(), 0);}
     /**
      * Convert a PVField to a string.
      * @param buf buffer for the result
@@ -135,7 +137,8 @@ public:
      * @param pv The PVField to convert to a string.
      * If the PVField is a structure or array be prepared for a very long string.
      */
-    void getString(StringBuilder buf,PVField const * pvField);
+    void getString(StringBuilder buf,PVField const * pvField)
+    {getString(buf, pvField, 0);}
      /**
       * Convert from an array of String to a PVScalar
       * @param pv The PV.